Multiple LUN support for SATA devices

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment provides for a device driver embodied in a computer readable medium. The device driver includes instructions operative to cause a programmable processor to receive a command and perform a determination as to whether the command is a drive command or a media changer command. The command is then conditionally modified, based on the determination and the command is forwarded.

1. A device driver embodied in a computer readable medium, wherein the device driver comprises instructions operative to cause a programmable processor to:
 concurrently emulate a first device and a second device to a host system, wherein each device is identified to the host system by a unique logic unit number (LUN); 
 receive a command addressed to one of the two devices; 
 determine to which one of the first device and the second device the command is addressed; 
 if the command is addressed to the first device, forward the command to the first device; and 
 if the command is addressed to the second device, modify the command by embedding an operation code instruction into the command, which indicates to the first device that the command is addressed to the second device, and forward the modified command to the first device. 
 
     
     
       2. The device driver as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the operation code instruction facilitates eventual delivery of the modified command to the second device. 
     
     
       3. The device driver as recited in  claim 2  wherein the device driver further comprises instructions operative to cause the programmable processor to compress the command. 
     
     
       4. The device driver as recited in  claim 1 , wherein to modify and forward the command when the command is addressed to the second device, the device driver further comprises instructions operative to cause the programmable processor to:
 forward an identifier to indicate that a media changer command will be sent next; and 
 forward the modified command. 
 
     
     
       5. The device driver as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second device is a destination automated library system. 
     
     
       6. In a system operable to generate and forward media changer and drive commands, a method for conditionally modifying a command, the method comprising:
 concurrently emulating a first device and a second device to a host system, wherein each device is identified to the host system by a unique logic unit number (LUN); 
 receiving a command addressed to one of the two devices; 
 determining to which one of the first device and the second device the command is addressed; 
 if the command is addressed to the first device, forwarding the command to the first device; and 
 if the command is addressed to the second device, modifying the command by embedding an operation code instruction into the command, which indicates to the first device that the command is addressed to the second device, and forwarding the modified command to the first device. 
 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the operation code instruction facilitates eventual delivery of the command to the second device. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 7  further comprising compressing the command. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein forwarding the modified command to the media changer system comprises:
 forwarding an identifier to indicate that a media changer command will be sent next; and 
 forwarding the modified command. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the destination media changer system is a destination automated library system. 
     
     
       11. In a SATA drive operable to identify and bridge media changer commands, a method comprising:
 receiving a command from a host system at the SATA drive; 
 determining whether an operation code instruction is embedded in the command, wherein the operation code instruction indicates to the SATA drive that the command is addressed to a media changer system; 
 if the operation code instruction is embedded in the command, forwarding the command to the media changer system connected to the SATA drive; and 
 if the operation code instruction is not embedded in the command, processing the command at the SATA drive. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the media changer system is an automated library system. 
     
     
       13. A system operable to generate and forward media changer and drive commands, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a memory; 
 a host adapter; and 
 a plurality of drivers, stored in the memory, wherein the plurality of drivers includes at least two command set layers each corresponding to only one of at least one drive or at least one media changer, a port driver and a filter driver, wherein the filter driver further includes instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the host adapter to:
 concurrently emulate a first device and a second device to a host system, wherein each device is identified to the host system by a unique logic unit number (LUN); 
 receive a command addressed to one of the two devices; 
 determine to which one of the first device and the second device the command is addressed; 
 if the command is addressed to the first device, forward the command to the first device; and 
 if the command is addressed to the second device, modify the command by embedding an operation code instruction into the command, which indicates to the first device that the command is addressed to the second device, and forward the modified command to the first device. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the operation code instruction facilitates eventual delivery of the modified command to the second device. 
     
     
       15. The system as recited in  claim 14  further comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to compress the command. 
     
     
       16. The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein modify and forward the command when the command is addressed to the second device comprises instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to:
 forward an identifier to indicate that a media changer command will be sent next; and 
 forward the modified command. 
 
     
     
       17. The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein the second device is an automated library system. 
     
     
       18. A SATA drive operable to identify and bridge media changer commands, the drive comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a memory; 
 a target adapter for connection to a host system; 
 a device controller for connection to a media changer system; and 
 a device driver, stored in the memory, including instructions operable to cause the device controller, the one or more processors and the target adapter to:
 receiving a command from a host system at the SATA drive; 
 determine whether an operation code instruction is embedded in the command, wherein the operation code instruction indicates to the SATA drive that the command is addressed to a media changer system; 
 if the operation code instruction is embedded in the command, forward the command to the media changer system connected to the SATA drive; and 
 if the operation code instruction is not embedded in the command, process the command at the SATA drive. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The drive as recited in  claim 18  wherein connections to the target adapter and the device controller can be selected from the group consisting of a physical connection and a virtual connection. 
     
     
       20. The drive as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the media changer system is an automated library system.